Dem Belly Full

I think that on a global scale, the cycle of poverty, health and development affects political, socialand economic issues in a negative way. Ultimately I think it harbors a negative impact on the advancement of diplomacy between and within nations. Economic stability and health are the underlying matters that determine how successful a civilization is. There are enormous implications to how productive a society can be that is ravished by poverty and poor health. The only outcome that results from this is political instability, social unrest and economic dearth, which stems across borders.

In this country, many may feel that the extensive problems that “third-world countries” face do not affect us. However, many fail to realize that in this age of globalization, that the problems of the world affect everyone in some way. Since the issues that face these countries seem so far away, we may forget that they find a way to come right out of our individual wallets/purses so to speak. We can look to the billions of dollars that the US loses in World Aid relief to developing countries to see one way they affect us.

I think the foremost substantial issue is best stated by a former revolutionary, Bob Marley, who once said “dem belly full but we hungry, a hungry man is a angry man.” There is a great resentment and hostility that arises from having poverty/poor health that people carry with them. The impact of living in poverty goes far beyond just not having money. According to the International Council of Nurses “the greatest adversities are the lost opportunities to develop essential human capabilities. Poverty is a disease that saps people's energy, dehumanizes them and creates a sense of helplessness and loss of control over one's life. Without health, a person's potential to escape from poverty is weakened due to lost time, labor, income, and the burden of health care costs.” With people being deeply disappointed and not satisfied with their lot in life, there is no way that they will be living and working at optimum productivity. A people divided and disgruntled will result in a society that won’t really function the way that it should because of the lack of productivity that arises from this.